Description

This is a virus detection. Viruses are programs that self-replicate recursively, meaning that infected systems spread the virus to other systems, which then propagate the virus further. While many viruses contain a destructive payload, it's quite common for viruses to do nothing more than spread from one system to another.

Indication of Infection

On an infected system the virus hides the FILE|TEMPLATES, TOOLS|MACRO, and TOOLS|CUSTOMIZE functionality. Warning: It is important not to use these commands, as you will execute the viral code. If the TOOLS|MACRO command is used a 'Microsoft Word Err=1022' MessageBox will be displayed and Word will quit because of a mistake in coding. If the user opens a file on the 1st or the 13th the same error message is displayed.

On the first infection a mistake in coding causes a 'WordBasic Err=102' MessageBox to be displayed.

in Word's Global Template NORMAL.DOT. The virus becomes active by using Auto- and SystemMacros. All macros are encrypted using the standard Word execute-only feature, which means that the user is unable to edit or view the macro code.

It is very common for macro viruses to disable options within Office applications for example in Word, the macro protection warning commonly is disabled. After cleaning macro viruses, ensure that your previously set options are again enabled.